A Mumbai court on Tuesday rejected the bail petition of Pravin Mahajan, accused of killing his elder brother and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan, on the ground that there was prima facie evidence linking him to the crime.

Sessions judge Abhay Thipsay denied him bail after considering the police submission that a prima facie case had been made out against Pravin and that he may abscond if he was granted liberty.

While seeking bail, Pravin said that since the investigations were over and the chargesheet had been filed, he should be granted liberty to prepare to defend himself. Pravin also contended that the motive for the murder had not been established in the chargesheet. Except for his statement to police, there was no evidence to corroborate his involvement in the crime, he claimed.

Pravin's lawyer Nandkumar Rajurkar said the police had not recorded the statement of Rahul Mahajan, the son of late Pramod Mahajan, who had talked to his father when he was fighting for life at Hinduja Hospital. Rajurkar said it was necessary to find out what Pramod had told Rahul. Pravin's bail petition also contended that the police had not recorded Pramod's dying declaration.

Police had on July 14 filed a 650-page chargesheet against Pravin in the magistrate's court. The chargesheet contained the statements of Pravin and 58 witnesses, including Rekha [Images] Mahajan, Pramod Mahajan's widow. The case has been committed to the sessions court for trial. Pravin is charged with murder (Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code) and criminal trespass (Section 449). Pravin had shot his brother on April 22 at the latter's residence. Pramod succumbed to his injuries 12 days later.